‘You fought hard’: Simbine earns respect of SA in closest Olympic men’s 100m final
Akani Simbine may have finished seventh in the closest Olympic men’s 100m final in history on Sunday evening, but he still earned the respect of the nation.
In a remarkable race that saw three athletes given the same time, Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs won gold in a time of 9.80 seconds. Andre De Grasse of Canada and American Fred Kerley were awarded silver and bronze, respectively.
Simbine was just 0.04 seconds behind Jacobs, and he finished ahead of some of the world’s best sprinters, including reigning world champion Christian Coleman of the United States.
The South African was philosophical about his performance after the race.
“I’m a little bit disappointed that I didn’t finish on the podium, but I gave it my all. I can’t be too hard on myself,” Simbine said.
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I’ve come a long way and I’m still only 27. I’ve got plenty of time to improve and I’m looking forward to the future.”
Simbine’s performance was particularly impressive considering the challenges he has faced in recent months.
He contracted Covid-19 in April, which disrupted his training and forced him to miss several competitions.
He also suffered a hamstring injury in the lead-up to the Olympics, which limited his preparation.
Despite these setbacks, Simbine still managed to produce a performance that earned the respect of the nation.
He was praised by his fellow athletes, coaches, and fans for his courage and determination.
Simbine’s performance was a reminder that anything is possible if you never give up on your dreams.
He is an inspiration to us all, and we look forward to seeing what he achieves in the future.
Here is a round-up of the reaction to Simbine’s performance:
Athletics South Africa President Aleck Skhosana: “Akani Simbine ran a great race. He fought hard and he did us proud. We are all behind him and we know that he has a bright future.”
Former Olympic 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk: “Akani Simbine is a champion. He ran his heart out today and he deserves all the respect in the world. He is an inspiration to us all.”
Simbine’s coach, Henrico Botha: “I’m so proud of Akani. He has worked so hard for this moment and he deserves all the credit. He is a world-class athlete and he has a lot more to give.”
South African fans: “Akani Simbine, you are a fighter! You ran your heart out and you did us proud. We are all behind you and we know that you will achieve great things in the future.”
